If you filed or received an automatic state income tax return extension by April 15, 2019, you can e-file your IRS and State Tax Return by Oct. 15, 2019 to avoid late filing penalties. Late Payment Penalties might apply. Visit this page for details on how to ONLY file a state tax return without the IRS Tax Return.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that tax season will open on Monday, January 28, 2019. The IRS will begin accepting paper and electronic tax returns that day.
The IRS made the start date announcement despite the ongoing government shutdown. “We are committed to ensuring that taxpayers receive their refunds notwithstanding the government shutdown. I appreciate the hard work of the employees and their commitment to the taxpayers during this period,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig.
According to the IRS, Congress directed the payment of tax refunds through a permanent, indefinite appropriation (31 U.S.C. 1324). The IRS says it has “consistently been of the view that it has authority to pay refunds despite a lapse in annual appropriations.” While the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has previously directed the IRS not to pay refunds during a lapse, the IRS indicated that OMB has reviewed the relevant law at Treasury’s request and concluded that IRS may pay tax refunds during a lapse. (You can read more here.)
As a result, the IRS intends to recall “a significant portion of its workforce” to work. More information will be available once the IRS issues its updated Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan, which is slated to “be released publicly in the coming days.” The most recently released contingency plan lapsed on December 31, 2018. (You can read more here.)
The due date for the 2019 filing season remains April 15, 2019, for most taxpayers. However, taxpayers who live in Maine or Massachusetts will have until April 17, 2019, to file their federal income tax returns. (You can read more here.)
Every year, taxpayers have questions about early filing. Many software companies and tax professionals will accept tax returns before opening day, January 28, 2019. That doesn't mean that your tax return will be filed early. Software companies and tax professionals will submit returns when IRS systems open. For faster refunds, the IRS strongly encourages people to file their tax returns electronically.
More information about tax season, including filing updates, will be available as January 28, 2019, approaches. Check back regularly for more details.
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that tax season will open on Monday, January 28, 2019. The IRS will begin accepting paper and electronic tax returns that day.
The IRS made the start date announcement despite the ongoing government shutdown. “We are committed to ensuring that taxpayers receive their refunds notwithstanding the government shutdown. I appreciate the hard work of the employees and their commitment to the taxpayers during this period,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig.
According to the IRS, Congress directed the payment of tax refunds through a permanent, indefinite appropriation (31 U.S.C. 1324). The IRS says it has “consistently been of the view that it has authority to pay refunds despite a lapse in annual appropriations.” While the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has previously directed the IRS not to pay refunds during a lapse, the IRS indicated that OMB has reviewed the relevant law at Treasury’s request and concluded that IRS may pay tax refunds during a lapse. (You can read more here.)
As a result, the IRS intends to recall “a significant portion of its workforce” to work. More information will be available once the IRS issues its updated Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan, which is slated to “be released publicly in the coming days.” The most recently released contingency plan lapsed on December 31, 2018. (You can read more here.)
The due date for the 2019 filing season remains April 15, 2019, for most taxpayers. However, taxpayers who live in Maine or Massachusetts will have until April 17, 2019, to file their federal income tax returns. (You can read more here.)
Every year, taxpayers have questions about early filing. Many software companies and tax professionals will accept tax returns before opening day, January 28, 2019. That doesn't mean that your tax return will be filed early. Software companies and tax professionals will submit returns when IRS systems open. For faster refunds, the IRS strongly encourages people to file their tax returns electronically.
More information about tax season, including filing updates, will be available as January 28, 2019, approaches. Check back regularly for more details.
Introduction
Tax Basics
What Changed in 2018
Do I Have to File a Return?
How Soon Can I File Taxes?
What's New with Form 1040
Tax Filing Deadlines 2019
Best Tax Software to Use
Filing Your Return
Filing Tax Returns By Mail
Filing Tax Returns Online
When Will I Get My Refund?
Tax Filing Status
Filing Status Explained
Federal Income Tax Brackets
Head of Household Status
Married Filing Separately
Married Filing Jointly
Qualifying Widow(er) Status
Taxable Income
W-2 Form Explained
W-4 Form Explained
Will My Home Sale be Taxed?
Reporting Capital Gains
Pensions & Annuity Income
Tax Deductions
Tax Deductions Explained
Standard Deduction
Itemized Deductions
Claiming Dependents
Deducting Medical Expenses
Tax Credits
Tax Credits Explained
Earned Income Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Child and Dependent Care
Family Tax Credit
Education Tax Credits
Critical Tax Deadlines for the U.S. 2018 Tax Year for Individuals and Businesses
At some point early every year, Americans begin scrambling to figure out what tax forms they must file and when they must file them.
The official deadline to file your federal income tax return can be a little shifty. Yes, it's supposed to be April 15—unless something interferes with that timing, like the date falling on a weekend or a holiday in a certain year. Whenever a tax deadline falls on a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday, it's typically moved to the next business day.
This doesn't happen in 2019, however. April 15 falls on a Monday and it's not a holiday, so the filing deadline for your 2018 tax return is indeed April 15 in 2019.
An exception to the 2019 due date exists if you happen to live in Massachusetts or Maine. These states recognize Patriot's Day on April 15, and the District of Columbia recognizes Emancipation Day on April 16, so the tax filing deadline is pushed to April 17 if you live in either of these states.
The Internal Revenue Service began processing tax returns in 2019 on Jan. 28. Here are some other important deadlines you might want keep in mind.
Deadlines in Calendar Year 2019 for 2018 Returns
Estimated tax paymentsfor the 2018 Tax Year(IRS Form 1040-ES)
These were due on April 17, June 15, and Sept. 17, 2018. The fourth and final estimated payment for the 2018 tax year was due on Jan. 15, 2019.
Estimated tax paymentsfor the 2019 Tax Year(IRS Form 1040-ES)
April 15, 2019
June 17, 2019
Sept. 16, 2019
Jan. 15, 2020
Partnership returns(IRS Form 1065):
March 15, 2019
Extended deadline is Sept. 16, 2019
Estates and Trusts income tax returns(IRS Form 1041):
April 15, 2019
Extended deadline is Sept. 30, 2019
C-corporation income tax returns(IRS Form 1120):
April 15, 2019 for C corporations that operate on a calendar year
Extended deadline is Oct. 15, 2019
The deadline for C corp returns is the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of the corporation's fiscal year if the corporation is on a fiscal rather than a calendar year.
S-corporation returns(IRS Form 1120-S):
March 15, 2019 for corporations on a calendar year
Extended deadline is Sept. 15, 2019
The deadline for S corp and partnership returns is the 15th day of the third month following the end of the fiscal year if they are on a fiscal year rather than a calendar year.
Foreign bank account reports(IRS FinCen Form 114):
April 15, 2019
Extended deadline with Form 1040 is Oct. 15, 2019
Deadlines Organized by Date
January 15, 2019
Deadline to pay the fourth quarter estimated tax payment for tax year 2018
January 31, 2019
Deadline for employers to mail out W-2 Forms to their employees and for businesses to furnish 1099 Forms reporting, among other things, nonemployee compensation, bank interest, dividends, and distributions from a retirement plan
February 15, 2019
Deadline for financial institutions to mail out Form 1099-B relating to sales of stock, bonds, or mutual funds through a brokerage account, Form 1099-S relating to real estate transactions; and Form 1099-MISC if the sender is reporting payments in boxes 8 or 14
February 28, 2019
Deadline for businesses to mail Forms 1099 and 1096 to the IRS
March 15, 2019
Deadline for corporate tax returns (Forms 1120, 1120-A, and 1120-S) for the year 2018, or to request automatic six-month extension of time to file (Form 7004) for corporations that use the calendar year as their tax year
Deadline to file partnership tax returns (Form 1065) or to request an automatic five-month extension of time to file (Form 7004)
April 15, 2019
Deadline to file individual tax returns (Form 1040) for the year 2018 or to request an automatic extension (Form 4868). An extension provides an extra six months to file your return. Payment of the tax is still due by April 15. You can submit payment for any taxes you owe along with the extension form.
Last day to make a contribution to traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Health Savings Account, SEP-IRA, or solo 401(k) for the 2018 tax year. You have until October 15 to fund a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) if you get an extension.
First-quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2019 tax year
Deadline to file estate income tax or trust income tax returns (Form 1041) or to request an automatic five-month extension of time to file (Form 7004)
May 31, 2019
Deadline for financial institutions to send out Form 5498 to report balances in an individual retirement account
June 17, 2019
Second-quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2018 tax year
June 17, 2019
Deadline for U.S. citizens living abroad to file individual tax returns or file Form 4868 for an automatic 4-month extension
September 16, 2019
Third-quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2019 tax year
Final deadline to file corporate tax returns for the year 2018 if an extension was requested. (Forms 1120, 1120-A, 1120-S)
October 1, 2019
Deadline for self-employed persons or small employers to establish a SIMPLE-IRA
October 15, 2019
Final extended deadline to file individual tax returns for the year 2018 (Form 1040)
Last day the IRS will accept an electronically filed tax return for the year 2018. If you're filing after this date, you'll have to mail in your tax return for processing.
Final deadline to fund a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) for tax year 2018 if you requested an automatic extension of time to file.
What If You Miss a Date?
You'll probably be hit with a moderate financial penalty, if only an extra interest charge, if you don't submit your return and any payment due on that return by the deadline. But the IRS should accept your money and your tax return and that will be the end of it unless there's another problem.
The IRS says you should file your return as soon as possible if you miss a deadline. If you owe taxes, pay them as soon as possible as well.
Go to IRS Direct Pay and have the payment debited directly from your bank account if you owe money and don't want to send a check to the IRS via snail mail, risking all the extra time that might entail. You might also want to e-file your late return if you haven't missed that deadline as well. Most taxpayers can e-file at IRS Free File. The IRS will accept e-filed returns up until November. It will announce the exact date in November sometime in October 2019.
File your return anyway and immediately apply for a payment plan if you can't pay the tax you owe right away. The IRS will generally let you pay over time as long as you make arrangements to do so.